Microsoft Account - Sign Up - Is it safe ?

[Speedo1968]

I use W7 ( Win Pro 7 ) ( out of choice ).

I use MS Office Home & Student 2013.

My laptop is newish - July 2015.

 

My old laptop - 2012 - W7 and MS Office.

 

Old Laptop = In Word / Review I could use Spelling and Grammar, Dictionary and Thesaurus.

These would give the further options of different dictionaries, all dictionaries and, Thesaurus

gave complete sentences and different country options ( eg UK, US, Europe etc ). 

 

Newish Laptop = As an example of what it doesn't do now - today when I put in the word "haft" Thesaurus said it could not find and gave the message -

'To see definitions sign in using your Microsoft Account'.

 

There are further issues with page layout  ( a double sized border bottom or side of page ),

unsolvable by HP Printer engineers and is a MS Office 2013 issue.

 

I don't have a Microsoft Account although I do have original discs for Windows and MS Office.

My question is: How safe is it to have a Microsoft Account ???

Please note I don't use Outlook etc, just Word.

i am not a newbie to computers just not a techie. 

 

Many thanks to any and all who reply. 

 

 

 

[Pib]

It's as safe as signing up for any other similar account.  Microsoft simply wants to get more people using their online services and products and they require you to have a MS accounts for some of their stuff.   When you sign up for an account you are automatically getting another email address also you can use.  Heck, I have three MS accounts/email addresses and I'm still alive.

 

I only log onto a MS account when I have to....I do not use it for Windows bootup.   And when using my MS email addresses I just use my Outlook email client to access them via POP and/or I use the Email app in Win 10. 

Edited March 20, 2017 by Pib

[Speedo1968]

11 hours ago, Pib said:

It's as safe as signing up for any other similar account.  Microsoft simply wants to get more people using their online services and products and they require you to have a MS accounts for some of their stuff.   When you sign up for an account you are automatically getting another email address also you can use.  Heck, I have three MS accounts/email addresses and I'm still alive.

 

I only log onto a MS account when I have to....I do not use it for Windows bootup.   And when using my MS email addresses I just use my Outlook email client to access them via POP and/or I use the Email app in Win 10. 

 

Many thanks Pib.   I have 3 email accounts with a Thai provider for the past 16 years, never a problem.  The're not free but almost and, have excellent phone help etc.

I don't use Facebook, Yahoo, Gmail etc only Skype and LINE - so I guess even with the later two I have still registered.

Guess I trust MIcrosoft as much as the next person .......

[Pib]

Probably best to emails accounts with more than just one email service, because if that one service goes belly-up then you need to scramble to setup another email service.   Heck, regarding gmail I have three google/gmail email accounts...and the wife has one....no problems.  Since we are Android device people you pretty much "must" have at least one google/gmail account if you want to keep the apps updated on your smartphone/tablet, use Google Voice, etc.   

 

Another thing I don't like about having a "local" email provider like from the internet service provider you happen to be using, when you move from that area and cancel with that internet provider you almost always lose that email service although they may allow you to keep it for X-amounts after cancellation.  Yeap, me prefer the BIG, anywhere-you-are-in-the-world email providers like gmail, MS, etc (excluding Yahoo).

[topt]

On ‎21‎/‎03‎/‎2017 at 8:53 AM, Speedo1968 said:

 

Many thanks Pib.   I have 3 email accounts with a Thai provider for the past 16 years, never a problem.  The're not free but almost and, have excellent phone help etc.

I don't use Facebook, Yahoo, Gmail etc only Skype and LINE - so I guess even with the later two I have still registered.

Guess I trust MIcrosoft as much as the next person .......

If you use Skype can't you then use that as your MSN account?

[Speedo1968]

On 3/21/2017 at 9:50 AM, Pib said:

Probably best to emails accounts with more than just one email service, because if that one service goes belly-up then you need to scramble to setup another email service.   Heck, regarding gmail I have three google/gmail email accounts...and the wife has one....no problems.  Since we are Android device people you pretty much "must" have at least one google/gmail account if you want to keep the apps updated on your smartphone/tablet, use Google Voice, etc.   

 

Another thing I don't like about having a "local" email provider like from the internet service provider you happen to be using, when you move from that area and cancel with that internet provider you almost always lose that email service although they may allow you to keep it for X-amounts after cancellation.  Yeap, me prefer the BIG, anywhere-you-are-in-the-world email providers like gmail, MS, etc (excluding Yahoo).

 

Thanks for your comments Pib.

I have used the same "local" email provider since 2001, never a problem, whichever country I am in.   If they notice high levels of spam for any reason they block the account concerned when you next try to log in, then advise you to change your password, you can chose to change or not.   Their services have improved dramatically, especially spoken English ability.    I understand that they are now also an Internet provider.

 

Back in the 90's, when based in UK but working Europe / ASPAC / China etc I used some form of message / file sending service which went direct via the phone line, ( can't remember the name of the system at the moment ).   You made a few wire changes on the phone connection and the messages, ( including detailed reports ), often went so fast that they didn't even register enough to put on your hotel phone bill.

[Speedo1968]

17 hours ago, topt said:

If you use Skype can't you then use that as your MSN account?

 

Not sure but will check out of curiosity - however my use of Skype is not high.   There were problems with Skype when I first registered.   Receiving a few spam messages, including voice calls.

My account names and passwords vary tremendously, not necessarily in a single language etc.